New Library Gives Public Sneak Peek

You can`t judge a book by its cover, nor a library by its red granite facade.

On Sunday, the public gets to be the judge of the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., which opens its doors for a sneak preview from noon to 4 p.m.

You won`t get to check out books until Oct. 7, when the $144 million library officially opens. But you can apply for a library card (bring two pieces of identification proving Chicago residency), browse through its millions of books, inspect its dramatic architectural features and soak up plenty of free entertainment. Guided tours will be available.

It is the largest lending library in North America with 10 stories, 750,000 square foot, 2 million volumes, 8,585 periodicals and books in 90 foreign languages.

The neo-Classical designed building features a skylighted wintergarden of trees and vines, a Chicago authors` room, a $1 million art collection and an extensive children`s library equipped with dolls, puppets and other toys.